D.C. Week: Congress Probes Compounders

by David Pittman David Pittman,Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today
May 25, 2013

WASHINGTON -- Congress took a hard look at several health-related issues this week -- Medicare, compounding pharmacies, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) -- before it left Washington for the holiday weekend.

The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee called the hearing to examine bipartisan proposals for Medicare reform. Specifically, they wanted to discuss increasing the Part B deductible, increasing Part B and D premiums for wealthier seniors, and establishing a copay for home health services.

House GOPs Still Oppose Compounding Bill

The FDA's push to gain more authority over large-scale compounding pharmacies like those at the center of last fall's fungal meningitis outbreak continues to gain opposition from House Republicans.

The lawmakers maintained that the agency had all the authority it needed to prevent the outbreak -- which has killed 55 people and sickened more than 750 -- through greater monitoring of compounders that act like manufacturers.

Probe into Sebelius Solicitations Expands

Republicans are expanding their investigation into Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' soliciting money from the healthcare industry to run the Affordable Care Act's exchanges.

The lawmakers have charged Sebelius violated ethical standards and possibly the law by asking organizations to give money to Enroll America, an organization established to encourage people to sign up for health benefits under the ACA.

And although the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee voted 13-3 that the recommended starting doses should be 15 mg for elderly and 20 mg for non-elderly, it also left the door open for a lower dose by agreeing that it would not be necessary to conduct efficacy trials of a 10-mg dose.

The lowest dose suvorexant's manufacturer, Merck, had asked for was 15 mg, but FDA reviewers found little evidence to support higher doses of the drug were superior to 10 mg and 15 mg.

EHRs Use Grows in 2012

More than half of eligible professionals -- mostly physicians -- have received Medicare or Medicaid incentive payments for adopting or meaningfully using electronic health records in 2012, HHS said Wednesday.

The CDC said the number of physicians using advanced EHRs in 2008 was a mere 17%.

Last year, 80% of hospitals demonstrated meaningful use of EHRs compared with 9% in 2008, HHS said.

DME Company Avoids Questions on Medicare Fraud

The owner and president of a durable medical equipment supplier invoked his Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination during a Senate hearing Wednesday amid allegations his company defrauded Medicare.

Jon Letko of U.S. Healthcare Supply refused to answer questions before the Senate Government Affairs Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight, which accused him of overly aggressive marketing tactics.

The company has questioned the subcommittee's findings.

CMS Asked to Delay DME Bidding Program

Two congressmen have called on their colleagues in joining them to ask the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to delay its competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment.

"Many members of Congress have continued concerns about the lack of transparency, the lack of binding bids during the contract process, and the improper vetting of the financial wherewithal of many firms that have been awarded contracts to service many bid areas far from their current base of operations," Reps. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) and Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) wrote this week.

The CMS competitive bidding program was set to expand to 100 markets in July from its original nine.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released a report from five cities showing that more than half of incarcerated adults tested positive for at least one illegal drug.

"To stop the revolving door of the criminal justice system in America we must address not only serious criminal activity but, equally important, the underlying substance use disorders," ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske said.

Next Week

Congress is not in session next week because of the Memorial Day holiday.

On Friday, the board of trustees for the Medicare trust fund will release the fund's annual report.

Accessibility Statement

At MedPage Today, we are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities can access all of the content offered by MedPage Today through our website and other properties. If you are having trouble accessing www.medpagetoday.com, MedPageToday's mobile apps, please email legal@ziffdavis.com for assistance. Please put "ADA Inquiry" in the subject line of your email.